free apps Archives | Page 4 of 11

How to find and listen to podcasts on your iPhone. And why you should.

Just yesterday I was chatting with a couple of my mom friends at my daughter’s track club about podcasts and I was surprised to discover that neither of them knew that they could easily access podcasts right on their iPhone. “Wait, they’re...

Why yes, you do need this app for free last minute Mother’s Day ecards

by Liz Gumbinner | Mother's Day Gifts, Photo Apps

I’m a big fan of ecards for holidays, and I have yet to find a better, easier resource for last-minute ecards than the Red Stamp app. With Mother’s Day just a day away, get on it! Surely there’s someone you’ve forgotten — a mom, stepmom,...

Stack app: The mesmerizing, beautiful free app game we can’t put down

by Kate Etue | Fun Apps

I like to keep at least one totally mindless, just-for-fun app on my iPad for some winding-down entertainment at the end of the day. Of course, Candy Crush and 1010 have dominated recently, but I’ve just discovered the Stack app (iOS and Android). And now...

Houseparty app: Free video chat with multiple friends at once. Great idea, or terrible one?

by Kate Etue | Fun Apps

Thanks to FaceTime, my kids are able to chat face-to-face with our relatives and friends around the country — something this mom is really thankful for. But, at this point FaceTime videos are still just one-on-one. That’s where the fun and free Houseparty...

The free Lab4U apps are like having a science lab right in your smart phone

by Kate Etue | Educational Apps For Kids

For those of you with budding scientists at home, the Lab4U app collection lets kids conduct real science experiments with just their phone. No WIFI required! The collection currently features two apps, Lab4Physics app and Lab4Chemistry, both of which use the sensors...

8fit: The free fitness app that’s really making us sore lately

by Kate Etue | Fitness + Health, Lifestyle Apps

I’ve figured out that I’m the type of person who needs a quick but effective workout that I can do from my home, without expensive equipment (that takes up space I don’t have). So, my new obsession has been the free 8fit app (iOS and Android)....

Pocket: The Pinterest alternative to help save all those articles, recipes, tweets and more.

by Liz Gumbinner | Productivity Apps

If you’ve become more of a news junkie over the past year like I have, you’ve probably realized that your standard browser bookmark bar isn’t necessarily your best best for saving articles you want to come back to. Let alone recipes you want to...

Stridepost: A free chores and calendar app for the whole family. Yep, even the kids.

by Kate Etue | Productivity Apps

I’m always a little more motivated to get to my chores when there’s a little reward involved, like watching a guilty pleasure TV show while I fold laundry. It’s the same for my kids, and the Stridepost app (iOS and Android) helps them see how doing...

We found 3 of the best political apps that make it easy to have your voice heard

by Liz Gumbinner | Best Apps

It’s amazing to see just how quickly some fantastic app developers have created political apps to help more people get involved in the political process, connect to your elected representatives, and make a difference, one voter at a time. The truth is, signing...

Put screen time management in your kids’ hands with the free unGlue app.

by Kate Etue | Productivity Apps

My kids are master negotiators when it comes to screen time, which is why we’ve never been successful with cookie-cutter methods to manage it. Sorry, Marble Jar. So that’s why I’m excited about the free unGlue app (iOS and Android), which actually...

Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz

Kristen Chase + Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks

We started Cool Mom Tech in 2010 to help make our increasingly digital lives easier, more organized, more meaningful, and more fun, however old your kids may be.

We love that it's grown to become the go-to source for millions of parents who want commonsense info about tech delivered with a smile.

We even have the privilege of sharing our tips + tricks with The TODAY Show, CNN, HLN, GMA, Nightline, newspapers and magazines around the country, and our favorite -- regular parents who stop us at PTA meetings and ask us how old kids need to be to get a smartphone, and whether they really need to panic about Snapchat.

(Answer: It's complicated.)

We're so glad you're here! And we hope we can help you too.